Complaining parents may want more quality time with their children

SIDELINES

It seems I have a bunch of notes, quotes and leftover "Q's without A's" in my notebook and on 24-Hour Sportsline tapes to unload on you today.

* For you coaches out there, isn't one of the main problems with parents whose kids don't play all the time the so-called quality time they spend with their kids?

It seems more and more veteran coaches, whether it be high school or recreation, are pointing to how the coach/parent relationship has changed. These days, parents seem to complain about playing time more than ever before.

They seem to challenge and question coaches' decisions more frequently. Maybe it's because we have a lot of single parents or both parents working. As a result the free time with their children has been limited.

So, when the parents come out to watch their kids play on an athletic team, they want them to play every minute no matter what their talent or limitations. The team concept seems to have been lost somewhere.

* Former Andover All-County soccer player and longtime assistant to Steve Malone at both Andover and North County, Dan Krimmelbein had an interesting comment to make on the Sportsline after the Knights (3-0) defeated Annapolis (1-2) by 3-1 Wednesday.

Junior midfielder Chris Cosentino, who tallied two goals for the Knights off of direct kicks, must have used a howitzer on one of them.

"It was a bullet about 25 yards, maybe the best high school shot I've ever seen," said Krimmelbein.

The Knights, by the way, host a big one 7 p.m. today at North County as perennial Region IV and county contender Severna Park comes calling.

* In addition to his duties as head girls soccer coach at Annapolis, isn't it great that Richard King also coaches youth soccer in the Edgewater Athletic Club with his wife, Donna.

"I had to make her my assistant coach after she threatened to divorce me because of all my coaching," laughed King, who is coaching the last of their three daughters, Amber, in the Edgewater program.

King, a Slippery Rock College grad, has been coaching Annapolis High for 12 years and has been involved in the youth program just as long. His affliction is called "loving to help kids."

* When it comes to defense in girls soccer, are there few better than Severna Park's junior sweeper Carrie Budzinski?

* If your youngster is a Special Olympian, have you heard about the Special Olympics rowing clinic for coaches and athletes this weekend in Edgewater? For more information call 202-956-7586 (day) or 703-385-7019 (night).

* While cornerback Wayne Small drew the Player of the Week accolades, and deservedly so, for his dramatic part in Southern's stunning 28-27 double-OT upset of Howard County juggernaut Wilde Lake, didn't linebacker Troy Dennis also have a spectacular game?

Dennis was in on 14 tackles, six of them unassisted, and grabbed a screen pass from QB Joe McCafferty, taking it 46 yards to pay dirt to send the game into the extra sessions.

* Former Southern All-County two-way lineman David Sisas is doing just fine at Wesley College in Dover, Del., as a defensive guard on the school's football team.

* Brian Brewer, an All-County senior outfielder on Old Mill's powerhouse 1989 state championship team, is the cover guy on the Marietta College 1992-1993 baseball brochure.

Brewer, who batted .400 with seven home runs and 45 RBI for the 43-8 Pioneers as a junior, was named NCAA Division III All-American DH. His big bat led the Pioneers into the Division III World Series in Battle Creek, Mich.

* Wasn't it great of former Prince George's delegate, now a Pasadena resident, Bill McCaffrey, to give up tickets to the Redskins and Orioles games Sept. 13 to handle the PA announcing at Joe Cannon Stadium for the 13th annual Anne Arundel County Sun-Oriolelanders' all-star baseball game?

"Even though we got rained out Labor Day weekend and the game was rescheduled, I felt committed to be there," said McCaffrey. "It's a great game for the kids and it's a pleasure to donate my time."

* Wasn't it sweet revenge last weekend for a couple of Anne Arundel Community College baseball players who were on the short end of the Oriolelanders doubleheader?

Chris Durocher and K. C. Murphy played for the Arundel Suns in the twin loss to the Oriolelanders by 14-7 and 11-2 on Sept. 13. Their AACC teammates Jimmy Simms, Don Shump, Russ Curry and Rich Spiegel had to play for the Pioneers in a fall DH after the Sept. 6 date was rained out.

They all played against the Oriolelanders last weekend and swept a twin bill by scores of 18-14 and 10-9.

* Former South River All-County basketball and baseball player Al Lee is doing very well at Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg where he is playing for the Mounties' fall baseball team.

"Al is going to be the best baseball player the Mount has ever had when all is said and done," said Coach Ray Ruffing of his freshman shortstop.

* Finally, doesn't former Broadneck High athletic director Tim McMullen have a right to be very concerned that he and the others on the county committee formed a couple years ago to study academic requirements for athletics and extracurricular activities "were never conferred with" on the new controversial policy?

The new academic policy that applies to athletes only is a 2.0 GPA requirement (up from 1.6) with a no-fail clause and no practice time allowed during a 20-day probation period. It was passed by the school board members at an August meeting and is slated to be implemented in January.

However, a panel of coaches and administrators studying the new proposal is likely to recommend a few changes, including the elimination of the no-fail clause and the pressure being on athletes only.